Farmer v. Town of Daphne
Farmer v. Town of Daphne
Opinion
John Charles Farmer, Jr., was initially convicted in the Municipal Court of the Town of Daphne of driving while his license was revoked and of speeding, violations of Municipal Ordinance No. 1987-8. This ordinance incorporates §
Farmer's driving history was properly certified by the custodian of records for the Alabama Department of Public Safety and the document specifically showed that Farmer's driver's license was revoked at the time he was charged with the instant offense of driving while his license was revoked (C.R. 40.) Thus, even if the evidence was inadmissible under the business exception to the hearsay rule, the document was properly admitted under the public records exception to the hearsay rule. Rule 803(8), Ala.R.Evid; §
"This exhibit contains several convictions on record that exceed a 10 year time period. All of [the driving offenses listed on the document] are highly prejudicial, [and they have] no probative value. I submit that if this goes to the jury then the defendant is being denied his right to a fair trial."
(R. 16.) Farmer's objection was more of an objection under Rule 403, Ala.R.Evid.,1 than one under Rule 404; thus, his argument under Rule 404(b) is raised for the first time on appeal. "`An issue raised for the first time on appeal is not subject to review because it has not been properly preserved and presented.'"Rutledge v. State,
Regardless of whether the precise issue was preserved, the admission into evidence of Farmer's complete driving history was not reversible error because Farmer waived this issue by his actions at trial. The City did not offer the driving history as character evidence. The City offered Exhibit 2 to prove that Farmer was driving while his license was revoked. Upon Farmer's objection, as stated above, the City offered to redact Farmer's entire driving history except for the relevant entry. Farmer declined, arguing that the entire document was inadmissible hearsay. As stated in Part I, the document was admissible under the public records exception to the hearsay rule. Thus, Farmer's refusal to redact the entries he alleged were irrelevant invited the error he now asserts on appeal. "`"A party cannot assume inconsistent positions in the trial and appellate courts and, as a general rule, will not be permitted to allege an error in the trial court proceedings which was invited by him or was a natural consequence of his own actions."'" Smith v. State,
The case is remanded to the trial court to hold a new sentencing hearing and to fix a fine at no greater than $500 for each offense. Due return should be filed with *Page 811 this court no later than 42 days after the release of this opinion.
AFFIRMED AS TO CONVICTION; REMANDED FOR SENTENCING.
LONG, P.J., and McMILLAN, BASCHAB, and FRY, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John Charles Farmer, Jr. v. Town of Daphne.
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published